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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Robert Kerry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kerryrobert71@inMail.cz>
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2010 20:19:13 -0700
Subject: Act immediately

Act immediately concerning your money, I was sent hereon off-shore Inspection exercise with some bank officials,
I am directly Responsible for rounding off and reporting on all abandoned transactions over the years.

I have just few days to do this. Be informed that the fund is on well noted desk and from the information, it has been resolved
That you are the beneficiary of the funds but it has not been transferred to you due to inadequate transfer arrangement.

You are hereby required to reply this email immediately, carefully Including detailed information with which the transfer should be Processed;
I need your telephone numbers for more effective Communication.We apologize to you for the delay in this process. Vital note:
Avoid any representative that has been handling this transaction the past because the bank has noted some irregularities that
may cause the confiscating of your funds if you continue using your former representatives here for the claims.
You are hereby advised and warned to stop communicating and working with them at this point. Email me immediately,feel free to ask questions if you have any.

Waiting for your urgent response.
Regards,
Mr.Robert Kerry

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